Back construction for mechanical binders



June 23, 1959 v c E L 2,891,552

BACK CONSTRUCTION FQR MECHANICAL BINDERS Filed May 9, 195a w".1.1111111111111011": 'III'IIIII ll A? '2 i r' 3/: if

INVENTOR Y (26192-21654 75035544 Unitedv States Patent BACKC()NS'I'RUCTIOTFT FOR .BINDERS Clarence Damon TmSQllrmg C App icationMay 9, 195a, sens! No. 134,303

fication such as present on most book'sand forcovering the mechanicalfeatures and giving the binding a finished book appearance.

It is an object of the invention to accomplish all of this in a simple,practicaland inexpensive forni of construction.

Further special objects of the invention are to provide a backconstruction for mechanical binders which may be readily applied to thebinder and, if desired, be readily removed, thus to enable the use ofthe same or different backs on binders containing the same or differentsubject matter.

Other desirable objects and the novel features through which thepurposes of the invention are attained are set forth and will appear inthe course of the following specification.

The drawing accompanying and forming part of the specification isillustrative of several different embodiments of the invention but suchstructure may be further modified and changed as regards the immediateillustration, as will be apparent from the following description andclaims wherein the invention is more fully defined.

In the drawings- Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a mechanical bindinghaving the invention incorporated therein.

Figs. 2 and 3 are broken cross sectional views on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1showing the back in separated and in combined relation with the binder.

'Fig. 4 is a broken part sectional side elevation showing the back inposition about to be applied to the binder.

Fig. 5 is a similar view on a larger scale showing the back interlockedwith the binder.

Figs. 6 and 7 are broken end elevations illustrating a modification inwhich the back is interlocked with the binder by a longitudinal slidingmovement instead of being sprung into the tubular back element, as firstillustrated.

Fig. 8' is an end elevation of another modification in which the backmember, as in the last mentioned form, has companion jaw elementsenabling it to be slid longitudinally into engagement with the backportion of the binder or possibly be snapped over the edges of thetubular or oval back element of the binder.

Fig. 9 is an end view of another modification.

In the first illustrated embodiment of the invention the binder is madeup of a tubular rib or spine 10 having ring forming fingers 11integrally attached thereto at 12 and having their free ends caught inthe opposite side of the tubular formation at 13.

This backbone structure is modified from the construction illustrated inthe patent to the extent that the tubular rib is cut open at the bottom,as indicated at 14, to permit the entry of interlocking projections on aback plate which is to be combined therewith.

This plate which is to form the back of the binding is designated 15 andis shown as a generally fiat plate of approximately the length and widthof the binder, so as to provide a more or less complete cover for thebinding and it is shown particularly in Figs. 2 and 4 as carryingcircular lugs or projections 16, along the center, of a size and spacedto closely fit in the tubular backbone between the rings, as in Figs. 3and 5.,

The back plate 15 and attaching lugs 16 may be of metal, plastic orother suitable materials and this plate may be flat with curved edges,as in Figs. 1 and 2, or be rounded as a book back or be otherwise shapedas desired.

Also it may have lettering or indicating data directly applied theretoor possibly applied by cards attached by adhesive or inserted in cardholders formed on or carried by the back plate.

The attaching lugs 16 and the receiving opening 14 provided therefor inthe tubular rib are preferably such as to require the forceful springingof the back plate into interlocked engagement on the backbone structure,thus to eliminate the need for tools or other accessories and insuringthat the back plate will remain in place with all ordinary handling ofthe binding.

Also it is to be noted that so engaged with the binder the back platedoes not interfere in any way with the opening of the bound pages andother full use of the binding.

While the interlock may be permanent for all general purposes or uses ofthe binder, preferably the yielding frictional engagement of the partsis such that the back may be removed, if desired, by prying it loosefrom the binder.

The opening 14 for receiving the lugs on the back plate may be made byslotting the back of the rib the full length of the same or this slotmay be terminated short of one or both ends of the rib to reinforce thesame and so as to leave a stop or stops at one or both ends to hold theback plate against longitudinal shifting movement on the binder. Theslotting of the backbone has the effect of creating opposing springfingers which will yield to admit the lugs on the back plate intosecurely held engagement within the tubular rib. Thus secured the backplate provides a reinforcement for the binder and a convenient grip forhandling the binder as a book.

In the form of the invention shown in Figs. 6 and 7 .the attachment ofthe back plate 1 is effected by providing it with opposed longitudinallyextending-jaws 20 to engage over the longitudinally extending flanges 21on the back of the tubular rib. These flanges may be provided byattaching a strip having these edges, as indicated at 22, Fig. 6, orsuch flanges may be provided by striking lugs out of the sides of thetubular rib, proportioned to fit in the under cut channel provided bythe opposed jaws 20 on the back plate.

Attachment of the back plate may be effected in this second form of theinvention by sliding it longitudinally or springing it over theprojecting edges on the back of the tubular rib.

Fig. 8 illustrates a modification in which the back member of the binderis of part oval rather than of completely tubular form, as shown at 23,the ring forming fingers 24 being integrally attached at one end at 25and inserted through openings in the hollow backbone member at theopposite end 26.

This construction provides two longitudinally extending projecting edgeflanges 27 enabling the use of a back a) plate 28 having inturned edges29 providing opposed longitudinally extending jaw elements engageableover the flanges by a longitudinal sliding or springing action.

Fig. 9 illustrates a modification similar to that shown in Figs. 6 and7, but in which the edge flanges 21a of the binder are integraloutturned edges of the tubular rib, instead of being provided by anadded attached strip.

This is a more compact construction, using less material and possiblyless expensive. The back in this case reinforces the tubular rib of thebinding, preventing it from spreading.

It will be noted in the first illustrated form, Figs. 2, 3, 4 and 5,that the back will be held against longitudinal shifting movement byengagement of the projectors 1.6, between the ends of the ring formingfingers which project into the rib at 13.

In all forms illustrated, the back plate forms an outside finished coverfor the back of the binder adapted to carry identifying data, such as abook title or the like, providing a finished book-like appearance,enabling handling and treatment as a book and all this withoutrestricting the free opening character of the binder.

I claim:

1. Back construction for mechanical binders having binder ringsconnected by a tubular rib, comprising a back plate, lugs on said backplate spaced to enter between said rings, said tubular rib having anopening in the back of the same to admit said lugs and the lugs being ofa size to closely fit within said tubular rib whereby to closely confinethe back plate thereto.

2. Back construction for mechanical binders having binder ringsconnected by a tubular rib, comprising a back plate, said tubular ribbeing cut in the back of the same between the rings into opposed springfingers and said back plate having lugs spaced apart and of a size toenter and be gripped between said spring fingers.

3. An outside back for a mechanical binder consisting of a tubular riband spaced fingers carried by said rib and having free ends projectingwithin the rib, said tubular rib'having openings in the back of the samebetween said fingers, said back plate carrying readable matter relatingto contents of the binder and having projections on the inner face ofthe same of a size to enter through said openings and fit within saidtubular rib and spaced to enter between the projecting ends of thefingers within the rib.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,615,493 Trussell Ian. 25, 1927 2,244,663 Adams June 10, 1941 2,262,601Brook Nov. 11, 1941 2,269,495 Trussell Jan. 13, 1942 FOREIGN PATENTS88,639 Sweden Mar. 2, 1937

